Archive for the ‘Improve Your Hitting’ Category

Once a Little Leaguer moves from tee-ball to pitching machine to live pitcher, hitting off the tee may seem elementary and perhaps beneath him. However, in youth baseball training, hitting off a tee can be an excellent drill, especially if a good batting coach is watching the mechanics.

Hitting off the tee, with a stationary ball that is located exactly in the strike zone, is a great way to increase muscle memory. Professional players hit hundreds of balls off the tee to improve their batting. However, it is very important that the batter’s mechanics are correct. Hitting off the tee with poor mechanics will lead to mentally ingraining bad habits which will lead to poor performance in the long run.

TEE HEIGHT

A batting tee may be set at different heights, and its location can be moved slightly. Varying the height and location of the tee helps batters practice hitting different types of pitches. Muscle memory is the goal here; the mechanics of hitting different locations and types of pitches should be second nature. That way in a game, the batter can focus on gauging the pitch; how to hit it will come naturally.

MECHANICS

The following movements should be reviewed and analyzed by a batting coach while a batter is hitting off the tee, to ensure good form:

The batter should practice his movements in slow motion while the coach watches. This way the coach can spot and easily correct improper mechanics. Once an adjustment has been made, the batter should practice the movement over and over until it is second nature.

Parents can help their kids with this as well. There are many videos on the internet that show proper batting mechanics. Review these together and have the player mimic these movements while hitting off the tee.

Hitting off the tee takes away the pitching variable. This allows batters to practice their hitting skills repeatedly without having to second-guess a pitcher or a helpful parent’s pitching abilities!

Who doesn’t like feeling the magic of the perfect hit? The bat meets the ball at just the right time and speed – CRACK - and the ball goes flying into the outfield while all the players on base run home! The crowd is cheering and the player feels great! His confidence soars and his love of the game increases. Proper hitting training can drastically improve hitting performance.

Hitting drills can be boring but the payoff is worth it. With just a few adjustments, a player will be able to hit the ball farther and more consistently. And he can begin to “pick” where he wants the ball to go AND perhaps avoid the dreaded pop-fly to the infield!